India’s masters nationals (Perth ‘qualifier’) may draw 4,000 entrants

After WMA worlds themselves, the biggest masters meet of the year may be in India, if The Hundu newspaper story is to be believed. “[Mysore] will play host to the 37th National Masters athletic championship to be held from March 2 to 6. About 4,000 athletes from across the country will participate in the championship. While the track events will be held at the city’s Chamundi Vihar Stadium, throwing events (hammer and discus) will be held at the University Oval athletic grounds.” Later comes the tear-my-hair-out declaration: “This championship will also be the trials to select the Indian team for the forthcoming World Masters Athletics championship to be held in Perth, Australia, from October 26 to November 6.” Of course, nobody has to qualify for Perth. The Indian affiliate apparently uses the meet to pick the subsidized athletes.

Here’s the rest of the story, in case the link goes south:

A release stated that the championship is being organised by the Masters Athletic Federation of India (MAFI) with the support of Masters Athletics Association of Karnataka (MAAK), Mysuru District Masters Athletic Association, among others.

As part of the national meet, the games torch, which was brought from Bengaluru on Tuesday, was taken to the Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hills.

After the puja, the torch was handed over to Mysuru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, who ran with the torch downhill.

The torch relay went across the city and was carried by veteran athletes N.R. Shankar Rao, Basavaraju, M.Yogendra, H.R. Ramaswamy, Chethan, K.T. Balarame Gowda, B.K. Somashekar.

The relay passed through Chamundipuram, CKC Convent, Ballal Cicle, New Kantharaja Urs Road, K.G.Koppal, Maharaja’s College and other main roads of the city.

On Wednesday, the torch will be carried by veteran athlete N.R.Shankar Rao from Nimbujamba Temple to the Chamundivihar Stadium and the games torch will be lit by International athlete Reeth Abraham.

As part of the championship, events will also be held for the physically-challenged athletes.

The athletic meet will be inaugurated by Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

This championship will also be the trials to select the Indian team for the forthcoming World Masters Athletics championship to be held in Perth, Australia, from October 26 to November 6.